BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Time to change things up

Weigh-In Wednesday Finale: April 24, 2024

Photo by Lili Popper on Unsplash

When I started writing about weight-loss and health last fall, I saw the course of these updates having a beginning, a middle and an end. I’ve since come to realize that things like this do have a beginning and a middle, but there is no end.

Even when I hit my goal, which I will, you still have to maintain, so it never really ends. As much as I enjoy writing about getting healthy, I have no desire to do so forever. There are other things I want to write about – rogue birds, for example. 

The goal was to lose 17 pounds. That’s what I wanted to happen. What actually happened is that I began eating healthier and exercising regularly, lost 10 pounds, my sleep and energy improved, and I formed a regular writing habit. I haven’t hit my weight goal (YET), but those are some pretty nifty life improvements, and I’ll take them. 

I was in a pretty bad place last fall in terms of sleep and energy. When you notice that how you are every day is impacting the people you love, it’s time to make a change. I’m glad I did. I have more to give to family today than I did back in October. 

Not to sound like a fifth-grade classroom poster of a dog walking down a trail, but that’s the thing about journeys – you don’t always know where they will lead. This one didn’t take me to my publicly stated destination, but it led me to places I really needed to go. I’m thankful for that – and I’m especially thankful for everyone who left a comment (special shoutout to All-Star commenter Laura), or who texted me, sent an email, or pulled me aside at a social gathering and opened up about themselves or shared a tip. There were weeks when you were what kept me going. 

If you would like to keep checking in with me about your own health journey, please do so. I will always make time to encourage friends.

Here’s what today’s announcement doesn’t mean: it doesn’t mean I am giving up. While I’m no longer going to write about health every week, I will continue to live a healthy life, and I will publish a check-in with you every now and then. When I hit my goal weight or look in the mirror one day and see an Ohio 8 staring back, oh, yes, you’re going to hear about it, my friend.

What’s next? I plan to write more about life, culture, crazy OU stories, and any other animals that make illegal entry into my house. I love writing. Connecting with another person through a series of squiggly lines on a page is something that’s part of me. I like doing so here, in a newsletter, because social media has become so unreliable in terms of keeping those connections strong. If you’re not the loudest maniac in the room, you’re not being noticed on social media. This newsletter is me making a bet on quality over quantity. If you’d like more LOLs and less hysterical shrieking in the world, I would appreciate your continued support. 

Drum roll, please...

Starting weight: 187

This week: 177

Feeling: Good about what’s to come and thankful for the weekly connection with you that got me here.